Frequently Asked Questions
When a male dog is neutered at the recommended age, he is much less likely to develop aggressive and territorial behavior patterns. When a male dog is not neutered, he may become prone to “marking his territory” with urine, (very problematic for indoor dogs!), prone to running away from home in search of a female, and prone to fighting with other dogs. He may develop a tendency to exhibit aggressive behavior towards people. Intact male dogs are also at risk for testicular cancer.
Intact male dogs can smell the scent of a female in heat from a great distance and will travel to her, so we highly recommend spaying your female dog to reduce the risk of an accidental pregnancy. Intact female dogs are also at risk to develop pyometra, (an infection of the uterus). The bleeding from a heat cycle can also be problematic for indoor dogs.
We typically recommend spaying and neutering puppies and kittens between 5 and 6 months of age.
RABIES VACCINE is required for cats.
Recommended for Cats:
FVRCCP/FELV (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Chlamydia, Panleukopenia, and Feline Leukemia)
Common feline viruses.
RABIES VACCINE is required for dogs.
Highly Recommended for Dogs:
- DA2PP VACCINE (Distemper, Adenovirus-2, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza)
Common canine viruses - LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINE (for outdoor dogs)
A bacterial disease found in the feces of rodents - BORDETELLA VACCINE
“Kennel Cough,” a highly infectious respiratory illness
Suggested for Dogs:
- FLU VACCINE
Flu-like symptoms, highly contagious. Due to recent outbreak, many groomers and boarding kennels now require. - LYME VACCINE (for outdoor dogs)
Lyme’s disease, transmitted by ticks
A parasite invasion is no fun at all. That one stray cat hung around your cat for a few days, and now your cat can’t stop scratching, your dog can’t stop scratching, and you’re even starting to find bites on you!
Thankfully, you don’t have to live with it, but it is a 3 step process: treat the pets, treat the yard, and treat the house. It is very important to get Veterinary-Strength flea and tick control for each pet, (not just the ones that come inside)! Although store brands are cheaper, they are simply not effective. And remember: any product can only be as good as the environment. If you don’t treat your house and yard, you will continue to see fleas! If you are a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) person, we offer Virbac’s Yard Spray for your outdoor areas, and Virbac’s Knockout E.S. Spray for indoor areas. You may also choose to have your home professionally treated. And finally, keep each of your pets on flea and tick prevention year-round to prevent re-infestation!
Yes, but very rarely. Their risk is much lower because they are much less susceptible to heartworms, and cats are called “a resistant host” because heartworms do not thrive well within a cat’s body.
Yes! Your Veterinarian will help you decide on the best course of action and care for your pet, based on their age and wellness, to eliminate heartworms as quickly and safely as possible.
Good question! The answer is for two reasons: 1) The risk is just too great. All it takes is ONE MOSQUITO BITE to transmit heartworms and cause heartworm disease. 2) The heartworm prevention products that we carry also protect against many common intestinal parasites, which dogs can be exposed to year-round. Intestinal parasites can cause weight loss and anemia, and in severe cases, death.
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the US and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body. Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats and ferrets, but heartworms also live in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions and—in rare instances—humans.
Dogs
The dog is a natural host for heartworms, which means that heartworms that live inside the dog mature into adults, mate and produce offspring. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies. Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. For this reason, prevention is by far the best option, and treatment—when needed—should be administered as early in the course of the disease as possible.
Cats
Heartworm disease in cats is very different from heartworm disease in dogs. The cat is an atypical host for heartworms, and most worms in cats do not survive to the adult stage. Cats with adult heartworms typically have just one to three worms, and many cats affected by heartworms have no adult worms. While this means heartworm disease often goes undiagnosed in cats, it’s important to understand that even immature worms cause real damage in the form of a condition known as heartworm associated respiratory disease (HARD). Moreover, the medication used to treat heartworm infections in dogs cannot be used in cats, so prevention is the only means of protecting cats from the effects of heartworm disease.
